Our first OFFICIAL portrait session

[WVCoalMiner]

We did a Photo shoot at our Church this weekend (Our first OFFICIAL portrait shoot) we used Ruthie's Alien Bee and softbox along with a 12 Inch clamp light with 100 watt 5600K daylight bulb along with a speedlite bounced off of the ceiling and still fought shadows something awful.
Here are a few of the shots from Sunday's session.
I know the shadows are terrible but in all it turned out OK.
We ended up shooting close to about 40 people so now it is all PP work for the next few days.

All I have done to these so far is crop and run portraiture and that is all.

[private]

lucky you are so close to Ruthie! I love the third one...

[kgb224]

Outstanding series of portrait pictures captured by you.

[FoG]

NOt bad at all I read about a nice cheap set-up for throwing light on the back .... uses a portable strip light and white sheet and presto no read shadows to worry about !! try it think the strip is like a longer version of the mechanics types but just a sheet against the wall or even maybe the wall alone here would be enough ... tricky lighting but great shots and well doen for getting them to look relaxed

[WVCoalMiner]

I think we are going to buy a 2nd Alien Bee with a softbox to try and combat the shadows

[WVCoalMiner]

I think we are going to buy a 2nd Alien Bee to combat the shadows.

[private]

Originally Posted by WVCoalMiner

I think we are going to buy a 2nd Alien Bee to combat the shadows.

I thought you sd you borrowed Ruthie's?

Oh well, I think the place that I bought mine from offers you a discount if you buy two of them. And even a bigger discount if you get the bigger softbox. I pd about $400 for one AB and the Softbox, so I think its some where along the lines 750 if you get a duplicate set up. Let me know if you want the link. I am shocked that Ruthie could part with her AB, you must be an uber nice and honest person- I personally don't even let my husband touch mine! LOL

Do you also have the huge reflector as well? I got mine on Amazon for like $40 or $50, I forget which one.

[leonaashlee]

Nice shots all of them...I really like the last two.

[WVCoalMiner]

Originally Posted by private

I thought you sd you borrowed Ruthie's?

Oh well, I think the place that I bought mine from offers you a discount if you buy two of them. And even a bigger discount if you get the bigger softbox. I pd about $400 for one AB and the Softbox, so I think its some where along the lines 750 if you get a duplicate set up. Let me know if you want the link. I am shocked that Ruthie could part with her AB, you must be an uber nice and honest person- I personally don't even let my husband touch mine! LOL

Do you also have the huge reflector as well? I got mine on Amazon for like $40 or $50, I forget which one.

Yeah I borrowed Ruthie's but we (me and the wifey) are going to buy one so we (Us and Ruthie) will have 2 to use whenever we need them LOL Yeah that was confusing LOL

We have the oval reflector which stands like 5 foot high when stood on it's end. Was like $60 I think


We live 7 blocks from Ruthie and pretty much share about everything. She hooks us up with her knowledge and equipment LOL. And my wife pretty much drives her insane so which means she is not bothering me so I owe Ruthie my life ROFL. Love ya Ruthie!!!!!

[private]

I have not seen any shadow issues with Ruthie's stuff, maybe the position of the reflector is not right. that happened to me ALL the time when I was trying to copy what she did. I am almost there, in my humble opinion...LOL. So now that you are getting your Bee - and the SB you won't need to share -

Hey wait a sec, only 7 blocks - so technically you are a competitor - I cannot believe that she shares! What happens if you have a seesion the same time that she does? Crazy crazy...wishing people in DC were not as competitive...LOL